Switch mechanism



May 29, 1928.

v E. M. WILCOX SWITCH MEGHANISM' Filed Aug. 25, 1926 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES- EDGAR M. WILGOX, 0F HAMMOND, INDIANA.

` SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led August 25, 1926. Serial No. 131,333.

This invention relates to switch mechanism, and more particularly to switch throwing and locking means.

There is what is known as an interlocking switch for use bothv on main lines and in switch classiiication yards. The interlocking switch is satisfactory in so far as it holds a switch locked in open or closed position, but its maindisadvantage is that it cannot be operated or thrown after a car comes within a predetermined distance of the switch, for example, `about thirty feet. This is a decided disadvantage in so lfar as the classification yard is concerned for many times it is desirable to throw a switch and lock it in the thrown position when a car is within three or four feet of the switch.

Any switch which is not positively lockedv in one position or the other is dangerous 'in that the switch point may become slightly opened resulting in one truck or one car going down one track and the next truck or car going down the branch track, resulting in a wreck. This is a matter of not uncommon occurrence. As a matter of fact, most of the automatically operated switches in classification yards are not locked. As a result thereof, wrecks are caused resulting in a considerable expenditure of money.

lt is highly desirable to have a quick acting automatically actuated switch locked in its closed position and prevented from easing back into an open position. Otherewise it will be apparent -in the case of an air operated switch that when the switch is thrown to closed position under a pressure of sixty pounds, for example, and the air pressure gradually becomes reduced due to the usual leakage of air, the switch point will spring away from a closed position toward an open position resulting in. wrecks.

Accordingly, one object of my-invention is to provide switch operating mechanism, preferably of the automatically actuated type, which when the switch is thrown to a closed position it will be locked in that position regardless of how much leakage of air there may be.

Another object is to provide switch operating mechanism ofthe type above indicated in which it is necessary toprovide a positive force to move the switch in an opposite direction or from its locked position.

A further object of vmyjinvention fis to provide switch operatingimechanism ofthe type above indicated which fis completely Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The various novel features of the invention will be vapparent from the following description and drawings, and willy be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the ii'gurcs of the drawings, it will be noted that my invention is illustrated in connection with track rails 10 and 11 and switch points 12 and 13 associated therewith. Heretofore switch points have beenthrown by a single transversely extending bar which vis connected to the switch point. 'In my arrangement, however, Il provide two parallel arranged superimposed transverselyy extending and movable members or bars 141 and lwhich are arranged in a space 16 below the railsI 10 and 11 vand the switch points 12 and 13. Switch points 12 and v123 `are connected to the upper transversely movable member14 in any suitable manner such as by'bolts 17 so that when the member 14 is `moved to the right the switch points will be moved to the right,and when the said member is moved to the left said switch points will be moved to the, left. Preferably the other transversely movable member 15 is loca-ted .below the first ,transversely movable member 14 and isconnected to a source of power such as a piston rod 18 connected to a piston (not shown) .operable within a fluid pressure cylinder 19. Secured `to the top ltransversely movable .member 14 on the outer sides of eachof the rails 10 and y11 is a plate 2O to which interconnected oppositely arranged toggle links 21 are pivoted at 22. The .upper ends of the toggle links 21 kare pivotally connected at 23' to a y.linkin the form of .a plate 24, the upper end of which is anchored at .a ,point just below the head of the associated rail. The lower ends of the links 21 pass downwardly between associated spaced pins 25 on the lower' transversely movable 'member 15 lby means of which motion may be transmitted from the lower transversely movable member to the upper one thereof and whereby the switch points in turn are act-uated.

As shown in Figures 1 `and 2 of the drawings, the switch point 12 has been moved to `closed position and the Switchpoint 13 into plate 24 engages the plate 23 connecting the oppositely arranged toggle links 21. The switch points 12 and 13 have been moved into the position shown in Figure 2 by a lett hand movement oi the transversely movable member l5 and a corresponding but shorter movementoiE the upper transversely movable `memlrer .14. lith the toggle links inthe position shown, the switch points `are positively locked in the positions indicated and it would make no diiierence how much air leakage there might be from the actuating cylinder 19. In order to break the toggle joint it is necessary to apply positive force in the opposite direction, or in other words,

` it is necessary to move the lower' transversely movable bar `to the right `as shown in Figure 2 for moving the pivotal point 23 upwardly for breaking the toggle joint. The

kcontinued movement ofthe transversely movablememberl to the right, through the connections above described, will result in a corresponding movement of the upper transversely movable member 14 and of the switchpoints, the switch point 12 moving to an open `position and the switch point 13 to a closed position in which` positions said switch points will be positivelylocked by the toggle mechanism shown at the right hand side of Figure 2.

A housing is provided for the switch mechanism as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprising a lower casing member madeup to iorm a sealed enclosure designated genj erally as29, the top wall oi which is po- Gill sitioned between the upper and lower transversely movable members and is provided with lopenings 31, through which pass the toggle links21. The end wall 32 is provided with `an opening 33 through which the lower transversely movable member 15 passes, it being understood that there may be `a similar opening at the opposite end in lying the central part ot the track while `permitting free movement of the parts.V The end housings comprise a casing 37 having one end snugly engaging the railv and havingits lower edge contacting in sealed relationthe top ot' the lower casing 29 in a manner to complete the housing `for the switch mechanism, this casing being provided at its top side with an opening closed by a sliding "cover plate 38` which can be removedto expose the switch operating mechanism.

By means oft the arrangement hereinabove described, the objects of the invention are accomplished.

I claim: l

1. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, a transversely movable member connected to said switch point, a second transversely movable member, and means connecting said transversely movable members whereby when the secondone is actuated it moves the iirst one for actuating the'switch point and positively locking it in a given position.

2. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, a transversely movable member connected to said switch point, a second transversely 'movable i'nember, and toggle mechanism connecting said transversely movable members whereby when the second one is actuated it moves the irst one 'for actuating the switch point and positively locking it in. a given position.

3. In switch mechanism, the combination ot a switch point, two parallel arranged transversely movable members, one oi which is connectedtosaid switch point, and means connecting said transversely movable members whereby when thev other of said movable switch members is actuated it moves the first one for actuatingthe switch point and positively locking it in a given position.

l fi. In` switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, two transversely arranged interconnected members operativelyA associated with said switch point whereby when one of said members is actuated, the other is actuated for actuating the switch point and said actuating movement causing a locking of the switch point in a given position.

5. In switch mechanism, the combinationy of a switch point, two transversely movable members operatively associated with said switch point, and toggle mechanism con necting said members whereby when one of said members is actuated the other is actuated for moving said switch point.

6. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, two transversely movable members operatively associated with said switch point, and means connecting said members whereby when one of said' members is actuated the other is actuated for moving said switch point.

7. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch p'o-int, two transversely movable members operatively associated with said switch point, and toggle mechanism connecting said members whereby when one of said members is actuated the other is actuated for moving said switch point and for locking said switch point in a given position.

8. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, two transversely movable members one of which is connected to said switch point, toggle links connecting said members, and another toggle member pivotally connected to said links and anchored at a point whereby when one of said transversely movable members is actuated the other will be actuated for moving the switch point into a given position and positively locking it in said position.

9. In switch mechanism, the combination ot two switch points, a transversely movable member connected to each of said switch points, a second transversely movable member, and means connecting said transversely movable members whereby when one of said members is moved it moves one of said switch points into openl position and the other into closed position. l0. In switch mechanism, the combination of two switch points, a transversely movable member connected to each of said switch points, a second transversely movable member, and means connecting said transversely movable members whereby when one of said members is moved it moves one of said switch points into open position and the other into closed position and positively locks said switch points in said positions.

1l. In switch mechanism, the combination of two switch points, two track rails associated therewith, a transversely movable member connected to said switch points, a second transversely movable member, and means on opposite sides of said rails connecting said members whereby when one is actuated the other is actuated for moving `one of said switch points into closed position and the other into open position and for positively locking said switch points in said positions.

12. In switch mechanism, the combination of a switch point, two relatively movable members one of which is connected to said switch point, Vand means connecting said members whereby when one is moved the other is moved for actuating said switch point and said actuating movement positioning said connecting` means so as to positively lock said switch point in a given position.

v 13. In switch mechanism, the combination of two rails and two switch points, means positioned beneath and on the outside of said rails for operating said switch points and a housing underlying said rails andl having portions extending upwardly on the outside of said4 rails for enclosing said means.

14. In switch mechanism, the combination of two rails and two switch points, operating means for said switch points positioned beneath said rails and a housing therefore comprising a casing having openings in its top through which pass mechanism connect ing said operating means and said two switch points.

l5. In switch mechanism, the combination of two rails and two switch points, operating means for said switch points positioned beneath and on the outside of said rails, and a housinglfor said means comprising a casing having openings in its top through which pass mechanism connecting said operating means and said two switch points for enclosing said means beneath said rails, and a separate casing positioned above said first named casing engaging said rails for enclosing said means positioned on the outside of said rails.

16. In switch mechanism, the combination ot two rails and two switch points, operating means for said switch points positioned beneath and on the outside of said rails, and a housing for said means comprising a casing having openings in its top through which pass mechanism connecting said operating means and said two switch points for enclosing said means beneath said rails, and a separate casing positioned above said `tirst named casing engaging said rails for enclosing said means positioned on the outside of said rails, said last named casing having a removable cover.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day of July, 1926.

EDGAR M. WILCOX. 

